Gene Haas Confirms He Will Launch Formula One Team In 2016

Gene Haas has revealed to Forbes that his team will join F1 in '16 and that "he is considering locating its European headquarters in England where its engine department will be based," according to Christian Sylt for FORBES. The design and aerodynamics department "will be based at the team’s head office" outside Charlotte, U.S. alongside the factory for the championship-winning Stewart-Haas NASCAR team, which is co-owned by Haas. Haas: “The plan is absolutely to launch in 2016 and we are fully committed to that. I don’t think there is any doubt about that whatsoever.” He added, “From a personal standpoint, I really would have liked to go racing in 2015. It was hard to sit there and say no. Trust me, I really wanted to go." Locating the team in the U.S. "is a bold move as it has only been done a handful of times in F1." However the risk comes with the potential for rich rewards as it would "give the team a unique selling point and make it a national flagship." Haas "is the ideal man to steer the team to success." Not only does he "have considerable experience in race team management, he also has the necessary resources to fuel his bid." Haas said, “Our plan is to have aero in Charlotte and engine work in Europe.” He added, “We are still looking at having a shop in Europe. England maybe would be the place to go because that’s where most of the Formula One teams are." F1 gives certain teams free air transport of their cars, equipment and spare parts to and from the races outside Europe and these flights leave from London and Munich, so Haas Formula "would be able to take advantage of them if it is based in England'' (FORBES, 6/4).